1. In a large bowl, whisk all the liquid ingredients together and then slowly whisk in the flour and remaining ingredients.
2. Melt some butter on a hot, flat surface (griddle or pan) and ladle 1/3 cup of the batter. Add desired toppings (sliced bananas, blueberries, chocolate chips, etc).
3. Flip over when they have risen (double in size). Transfer to a plate and garnish with fresh fruit and maple syrup. Enjoy!

A must-have during the holiday season and colder weather months, add a drop or two of this refreshing pure peppermint extract to hot chocolate, cappuccino, cookies, candies, icings, and sweetened whipped cream. It’s also great massaged onto your temples to relieve a headache!

This sweet wine jelly is infused with ripe, sweet figs and dry, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, a red wine with rich black currant and dark cherry notes. It’s the perfect pairing this holiday season, whether it’s a part of an appetizer cheese tray or brushed onto a plum or pear tart for dessert.

Known for its superior quality, the Madagascar-Bourbon vanilla bean is the most popular of all the vanilla varieties. It is highly fragrant, with desirable thin, oil-rich skin, and has sweet, smooth flavours and aromas.

I have had a chance to try these products in various recipes and I must say that my favourite item this month has been the PC Black Label Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean. As a Pastry Chef, this is a highly coveted item that I love to work with and always reach for before using any extracts. The flavour is rich and shines in any sweet or savory dish that it is used in. For this month, I decided to showcase my love for cranberries and vanilla bean in the form of scones. I love this time of year with the fresh cranberries and the holiday season fast approaching, these are perfect to make for a weekend brunch. They are sure to please everyone. If you’re not a fan of cranberries, you can swap them out for blueberries or raspberries. I’m excited to be hosting a giveaway for next month’s PC Black Label Collection Black Box on my Instagram feed. Read on for more information and how to enter below. Good Luck! I hope you’ll enjoy the recipe and it becomes your favourite go-to breakfast dessert. I would love to see your recreations using the hashtag, #hautesucre on your social media channels. Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, the PC Black Label Collectionmakes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel.

*PC Black Label Collection December Black Box Instagram Giveaway*

Giveaway details will be posted on my Instagram account @hautesucre. Head on over to find the post of this Cranberry Vanilla Bean Scones Recipe to enter via the Instagram comments. Giveaway Rules:

The giveaway will be open for entries on Instagram from Monday November 26th, 2018 to Wednesday November 28, 2018 9:00PM EST. Please follow the instructions in the Instagram post to enter.

The winner will be chosen randomly on the morning of Thursday November 29, 2018 and contacted via Instagram direct message.

Topping:

2 tsp cream

2 tsp raw sugar

Finishing:

½ cup white chocolate, melted

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

For the Scones:

Using a sharp paring knife, slice the vanilla bean lengthwise from tip to end. Use the back of the knife to scrape out the vanilla beans. *The vanilla bean pod can be reused and added to your sugar container to make vanilla scented sugar.

Pour in the buttermilk and cranberries and stir with a fork until a soft, sticky dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface and, with floured hands, gently knead and shape the dough, adding more flour to prevent sticking as necessary until dough comes together.

Pat out to a 9-inch (23 cm) circle or square as shown and cut into 12 wedges. Place on prepared baking sheet, at least 1-inch (2.5 cm) apart.

Topping:

Brush tops of scones with heavy cream and sprinkle with raw sugar.

Bake for 15 to 20 min, until puffed and golden.

Let cool for at least 20 min on a wire rack.

Melt the white chocolate in a heat proof bowl for 45-60 seconds on high in the microwave.

Using the tines of a fork or the back of a spoon, drizzle the white chocolate over top of the scones. Let it set for a few minutes until the chocolate sets and is no longer runny. Enjoy!

These Orange Mousse Cups are the perfect dinner party dessert, yet perfect for a simple weeknight treat. They are quick and easy to make, light and airy in texture, and refreshing. You can easily make this ahead of time, with little or no fuss at all. All you need are simple and wholesome ingredients to turn into a magical dessert that your friends and family will love!

I have made these Orange Mousse Cups with Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice to give it a nice refreshing taste that really complements this eggless mousse. I love incorporating nutritious foods into my desserts, so it’s a great feeling knowing Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice provides the additional nutritional benefits. The orange juice gives this mousse the rich and velvety orange flavour and gives off the impression that you spent hours to make it, when in fact it can be ready in under 30 minutes.

I hope you’ll try out this recipe and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next brunch or dinner party, they’re sure to become your new favourite mousse, get the recipe below. Enjoy!

Acai bowls are a favourite here at our house. It’s like eating ice cream for breakfast only healthier with the addition of wholesome fruits. It’s one way to entice your kids to eat a healthy breakfast, chock full of vitamins and daily servings of fruit and vegetables.

Traditionally Acai bowls are prepared with blended acai fruit and bananas and topped with coconut, bananas and berries. With the recent food trends all over the world, acai bowls have become highly popular and instagram worthy, and why not, these bowls are a healthy addiction to have.

I have partnered with Tropicana Canada for this Orange Acai Bowl recipe using Tropicana Pure Premium® Orange Juice. I love the hint of citrus in the smoothie bowl as it gives me that pick me up in the morning and it complements the berries so well. They are a healthy breakfast option in our house as they’re easy to prepare and the kids love to add their own toppings.

It is also an excellent addition to your brunch table if you’re having a lot of guests as it allows them to customize their bowls with the own toppings. I always like to set up a little buffet bar of the toppings and everyone can help themselves! It’s a fun and entertaining way to serve breakfast!

I hope you’ll try them out and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next brunch, they’re sure to become your new favourite, get the recipe below.

Waffles are a weekend treat at home and we love gathering around for big brunches with everyone. From sweet to savory, the options are endless. We love these whole grain waffles because they’re a healthy alternative as they’re made with whole wheat flour and our favourite Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice.

I feel better knowing I’m feeding my family a healthier option with the addition of Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice as it includes two servings of fruit per cup and we get the additional vitamin C and potassium in our waffles.

But who are we kidding? I love orange juice and any way that I can incorporate it into my meal, I will. My two-year-old daughter will devour an entire waffle for breakfast and I don’t feel guilty serving them to my kids.

Crowned with our favourite toppings, they’re the perfect cozy weekend brunch meal. To make it even more fun, I like to set up a mini fruit bar station for my kids that includes various berries, sliced oranges, nuts, whipped cream and maple syrup. And of course, we cannot forget the dusting of icing sugar that crowns the top!

I hope you’ll try them out and if you do, please share them with me using my hashtag #hautesucre, I would love to see them. Make these for your next brunch, they’re sure to become your new favourite, get the recipe below.

Whole Grain Orange Waffles Recipe

Makes 6 Waffles

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Organic Whole Wheat Flour

2 tblsp buttermilk powder

½ tsp kosher salt

¼ tsp ground vanilla bean

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

1 ¼ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

3 tblsp raw sugar

¾ cup Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice

1 large free range egg

3 tblsp unsalted butter, softened or melted

Toppings:

Fresh berries

Whipped cream

Icing sugar

Maple Syrup

Directions:

In a high-speed blender mix all the ingredients in the order listed and mix on medium-high for 1 minute or until the ingredients are combined. Set aside.

Transfer to a cooling rack and continue making the rest of the waffles

Transfer one waffle to a plate and top with your desired toppings such as mixed berries, maple syrup and finish with whipped cream and a dusting of icing sugar.

This post is sponsored by Tropicana Canada. I have partnered up with Tropicana Canada to bring you delicious new recipes that will highlight the goodness of cooking and baking with Tropicana Pure Premium® Orange Juice and how I enjoy it in my daily life.

This month’s PC Black Box included three delightful products that I had the opportunity to try. From snacks to desserts, there is such a wide array of PC Black Label products that you can serve for any occasion.

Blueberry Syrup

PC Black Label Artichoke Halves These sun-ripened artichokes are grilled and marinated and they’re packed in a delicous infusion of oils, garlic and spices. My husband loves artichokes and these were a delicious addition to pizza.

Soft Dried Apricots

PC Black Label Artichoke Halves

These sun-ripened artichokes are grilled and marinated and they’re packed in a delicious infusion of oils, garlic and spices. My husband loves artichokes and these were a delicious addition to pizza.

These sweet and plump Apricots from Turkey did not disappoint, they were eaten within minutes of opening the bag. My 7 year old son devoured them, they’re that good! Great for a cheese platter or just to snack on, these are a real treat to have around the house.

Made from carefully selected sweet blueberries, this artisan syrup is bursting with fresh berries! It’s an amazing rich syrup which makes delicious cocktails, salad dressings and our favourite breakfast or dessert toppings. One of my favourite products from this month’s PC Black Label Box, read on for my take on a holiday favourite, Swirled Blueberry Pavlovas!

I enjoyed all the products but I particularly favored the PC Black Label Blueberry Syrup for this month’s recipe selection. The first thing that popped into my mind was how well this sauce would go with my one of my favourite holiday desserts, pavlovas!

Pavlovas are a holiday favourite in our family and I hope they will become yours, too. This recipe is easy to prepare and the meringues can be baked ahead of time, up to 3 days and stored in an airtight container, layered between parchment sheets.

Whether you’re a home chef or an aspiring foodie, the PC Black Label Collection makes it easy to unleash your culinary curiosity and get creative. Discover the entire collection and be inspired to #PlayWithYourFood at pc.ca/blacklabel. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch ensuring there are no lumps.

2. In a large stand mixer whisk the egg whites on medium for 1 minute until frothy.

3. Add the salt and continue to whisk on highest setting for 2 minutes.

4. With the mixer running on medium high, slowly add the sugar mixture. Once it’s all added, turn the mixture back on high and whisk for 5 minutes until the mixture is glossy and stiff peaks have formed.

5. Spoon out 6-8 mounds on the parchment sheet using 2 spoons to help release the mixture.

6. Spoon 1 tsp of blueberry sauce into each mound and using the tines of the fork, gently swirl the sauce into the meringue.

7. Using the back of a small spoon, make an indent in the centre.

8. Bake at 255°F for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

9. Turn the oven off and leave the meringues inside to cool down, up to 12 hours without opening the oven door.

Baked Meringues

Pavlova Assembly:

1 cup Whipping cream 35%

2 tblsp sugar

Fresh fruit

In a large stand mixer add the whipping cream and sugar and beat until medium peaks form.

Plate each meringue and top with the fresh whipped cream, fresh berries and drizzle with 1 Tbsp PC Black Label Blueberry Sauce over top. Garnish with fresh mint and serve immediately.

Crostata evokes many memories of a summer semester I spent in Bologna, Italy when I was backpacking in Europe as a university student. I spent most of my hard-earned money on eating and sightseeing and I fondly remember all the bakeries serving many variations of this infamous Italian Tart. Plums, berries, apples, grapes all made their way into these traditional crostatas bursting with homemade jams, flaky and buttery crusts liberally dusted with icing sugar.

I used to walk through the streets sightseeing and eating my crostata with icing sugar dusting my face, a happy memory! I had a sweet tooth and couldn’t resist trying all the delicacies in the dozens of pastry shops that lined the streets.

When E.D.SMITH contacted me to collaborate on their fall campaign to celebrate their 135th birthday, I was delighted as it brought back memories of baking as a child with my mum. We used to love using their pie fillings and their jams were a staple in our house.

E.D.SMITH is an iconic Canadian food brand with roots dating back to 1882 and is currently the #1 pie filling in Canada and the largest Canadian manufacturer of jams and fruit spreads.

For their fall campaign, E.D.SMITH is inspiring the newest generation of Canadian home cooks to look past traditional jam on toast and plain pies to get creative with E.D.SMITH’s products.

My mission is to inspire you to explore the versatility of their products and show you how E.D.SMITH’s pie fillings and Triple Fruits spreads can fit within your lifestyle and today’s food trends.

I love a good challenge and what better way than to recreate one of my favourite desserts, a fruit filled crostata! A traditional crostata is an open-faced fruit tart, often with a decorative lattice top and made with a homemade jam.

I particularly enjoy E.D.SMITH’s Blueberry Pie Filling and thought it would be a great swap out for a traditional blueberry jam. As we head into the fall season, I made this crostata with the addition of ground hazelnuts as it gives the crust a gently nutty bite and it complements the Blueberry Pie Filling nicely. If hazelnuts are not to your liking, they can easily be replaced with ground almonds.

The addition of nuts in the pastry dough, coupled with the yolks creates a well rounded, rich crust that pairs nicely with the pie filling making you want to savour each bite.

This Blueberry and Hazelnut Crostata is sure to become your favourite too. It’s a delicious twist on a traditional, familiar dessert with a delicate lattice topping. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do.

Blueberry and Hazelnut Crostata Recipe

Pastry Crust Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup ground hazelnuts (or almonds)

3 Tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp citrus zest (lemon, orange or grapefruit)

1/4 tsp ground vanilla bean (or extract)

Pinch of ground cinnamon

3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, chopped

1 large egg + 1 yolk

3/4 can of E.D.SMITH Blueberry Pie Filling

Egg wash (1 egg + 2 tsp water)

9″ Fluted round tart pan with a removal bottom

Directions:

In a stand up mixer bowl with the paddle attachment, add the flour, ground hazelnuts, sugar, salt, zest, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix on low until combined.

Add the chopped butter and egg yolk, and mix until combined. Do not overmix as you still want to see bits of butter throughout.

On a clean surface roll out 2 sheets of cling wrap and place the dough in the centre and gently form a disk. Flatten, cover in cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350F

Roll out the pastry dough on a floured surface to approximately 14-16″ in diameter and l/2” thickness. Gently transfer it to the tart pan and press into the pan, bringing the dough up to the sides.

With a sharp knife, cut off the excess dough and reserve to make a lattice top.

Add the E.D.SMITH Blueberry Pie Filling into the base.

Roll out the excess dough and using a fluted pastry wheel cut strips to place over top the filled pastry.

In a crisscross pattern overlap the strips and crimp the edges.

*Alternate method; on a flour dusted parchment sheet you can create your lattice top pattern and chill it for 15 minutes. Gently flip it over-top the tart, sealing the edges and discarding any excess dough.

Brush with the egg wash and bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes or until golden.

Remove and place on a baking rack to completely cool.

Remove the tart ring and dust generously with icing sugar and cut into slices. Enjoy!

*The Crostata will keep for 4-5 days in an airtight container, refrigerated.